Mystic Yellow Ninja World's Lowest Origin

The following afternoon, Qingyu stood at the entrance to the mountain behind Naka Shrine, his heart filled with trepidation.

There was no helping it; he was far too familiar with this scenario.

Mysterious invitation → attending alone → it either triggers a hidden plot or leads to being silenced!

Following the tropes of an RPG, this would be the time to save the game... unfortunately, reality lacks the save-load exploit, damn it!

Izuna & Tobirama: Why don't you look for the reason within yourself first?!

Qingyu: System! Was the way you set this up problematic?!

[System: Yes, yes, yes, I failed to give you a hundred lives so you could reincarnate endlessly and become the most formidable ninja in the Mystic Yellow Ninja World!]

Qingyu: See? Even the System admits the setup is flawed, so why are you two low-scoring ghosts still trying to defend it!

I'll explain your dreams!

He patted the gear in his ninja pouch: 20 kunai, 20 shuriken, 10 explosive tags, 2 smoke bombs, and the emergency Communication Talisman Shisui had given him, though he wasn't sure if it would work inside the Uchiha barrier.

"Are you done checking?" Izuna urged in his mind.

"Dawdling like this—once you're done checking, get moving! You're nothing like an Uchiha! Back in the day, when my brother asked to discuss matters with me, I'd go straight there with my blade in hand!"

"But didn't you end up..." Qingyu muttered under his breath, wisely leaving the rest unsaid.

A rainy night, carrying a blade but no umbrella...

Flying Thunder God Slash!

"Being prepared is the right call," Tobirama analyzed calmly. "Based on the handwriting and word choice on the note, the sender is older, cautious by nature, and holds a certain status within the clan. It is highly probable that they belong to one of the elder factions."

"Caution is not a mistake, but one must be even more vigilant about whether the other party's intentions run contrary to the stability of the clan."

Qingyu took a deep breath and stepped onto the mountain path.

The mountain behind Naka Shrine was rarely visited.

The branches and leaves of the towering ancient trees almost completely blocked out the afternoon sun, casting mottled, swaying, and eerie shadows upon the ground.

The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

Qingyu walked up the path, counting his steps silently.

This was something Tobirama had taught him, to facilitate distance calculation and the planning of retreat routes.

After walking for about ten minutes, a clearing appeared ahead.

A figure stood in the clearing, back turned toward him.

The man wore the dark-colored clan attire of the Uchiha; his hair was gray, and his posture was upright.

His very silhouette radiated an aura that screamed, "I am very serious, do not provoke me."

Qingyu's footsteps faltered.

The man slowly turned around.

Was it Yashiro Uchiha? No, he was older than Yashiro, and besides...

"Qingyu-kun, you have come." The old man spoke, his voice raspy but powerful.

"I am Setsuna Uchiha, one of the elders of the clan."

Setsuna Uchiha? That radical elder from the original story? Good heavens, he had encountered a boss-level NPC right off the bat!

And the kind that could trigger a "beheading" side quest at any moment.

Qingyu hurriedly bowed: "Elder Setsuna."

Setsuna scrutinized Qingyu, a sharp glint flashing in his slightly cloudy eyes: "Not bad, you are calmer than I imagined. It seems the clan head and Shisui did not misjudge you."

"Elder, you summoned me... for what purpose?" Qingyu asked cautiously.

"Straight to the point, I like that." Setsuna nodded. "I will be brief... how much do you understand about the current predicament of the Uchiha?"

Here it comes!

The death-trap question!

He was testing my political awareness!

Please, Uchiha, Konoha, rest assured, I am here to strengthen the village!

Qingyu's brain raced, while he heard two voices in his head:

Izuna: "Tell the truth! The Uchiha's predicament is because those Senju people are ostracizing us!"

Tobirama: "A more rational analysis is required. I suggest approaching this from the perspectives of the Police Force's functions, public opinion within the village, and resource allocation..."

"The Uchiha..." Qingyu weighed his words.

"Hold an awkward position in Konoha. The authority of the Police Force has been restricted, the younger generation has few paths forward, and the relationship between the clan and the villagers is not exactly harmonious."

A trace of satisfaction flashed in Setsuna's eyes: "You've hit the nail on the head. So, where do you think the problem lies?"

Qingyu: "..." Elder, I am only a twelve-year-old child! Is it appropriate for you to ask me such profound questions?

"I think..." he said, biting the bullet, "it might have something to do with the... pride of the Uchiha?"

Setsuna raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Elaborate."

"Most members of the Uchiha clan are exceptionally gifted, and with the advantage of the Sharingan, it's inevitable that they have a certain... well, sense of superiority," Qingyu said cautiously.

"This sense of superiority easily triggers conflicts during law enforcement, and over time, it has created a rift."

Setsuna was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "Hahaha! You put it delicately, but I get your meaning—the Uchiha's 'arrogance' makes people hate them, right?"

Qingyu gave a dry laugh.

Elder, if you're this blunt, I'm actually going to be scared!

The Uchiha are too insane; you never know when an Uchiha who was fine a second ago will turn into a lunatic the next.

The tradition of the Uchiha is to doubt the world.

Madara Uchiha: I want to reshape this world!

"But have you ever thought," Setsuna's smile vanished, his tone turning cold, "why the 'arrogance' of the Uchiha is magnified? Why is it that when other clans are occasionally arrogant, it's fine, but when the Uchiha are even slightly assertive, they are attacked by everyone?"

Qingyu's heart tightened.

Is he about to start venting?

"Because someone wants the Uchiha to be isolated," Setsuna said, enunciating every word.

"Starting from the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, the Konoha high-ups have been deliberately marginalizing the Uchiha! The Police Force? It sounds like real power, but in reality, it's a hot potato!"

Good grief, scolding Tobirama right in front of his soul!

Elder, you are truly brave!

Qingyu subconsciously touched his forehead, feeling the soul of Tobirama within his mind fluctuate.

Although it didn't speak, the invisible pressure made Qingyu's scalp tingle.

"The Second Hokage... probably had his reasons," Qingyu said weakly.

"Reasons? What reasons?" Setsuna sneered.

"Putting the Uchiha in the spotlight, letting all the villagers watch our every move. If we enforce the law strictly, they say we're abusing our power; if we enforce it leniently, they say we're engaging in favoritism! We're wrong either way!"

Qingyu was silent.

These words... actually seem to make some sense?

Tobirama: What Uchiha? Throw them straight into the dog cage!

"The current Third Hokage is the same," Setsuna continued.

"On the surface, he's polite to the Uchiha, but in reality? Budget cuts, unfair mission distribution, and we even have to rack our brains just to secure spots for this joint event!"

Qingyu's heart stirred: "Does the Elder mean..."

"I mean that the Uchiha cannot remain passive forever," Setsuna stared at Qingyu.

"The clan leader wants to improve our situation through gentle methods, and I understand that, but some people... don't buy that."

He stepped forward and lowered his voice: "Qingyu-kun, I watched your match with Neji... you have potential and ideas, but you must understand... in Konoha, being 'excellent' is not enough! You must choose the right side."

Setsuna: The Uchiha have two factions! The eighteen elders are on my shoulders; it's not Fugaku's place to decide the major affairs of the clan and the village!

Being clever as a child doesn't mean you'll be great as an adult; I see this Fierce Eye Fugaku is about to live like a kitten!

Choose a side?

Is he asking me to pick a faction?

There really is factional strife within the Uchiha!

No way! I have to dodge this.

In my past life, expressing a stance to the God-Emperor in Warhammer didn't require taking responsibility, but Konoha has its own national conditions!

Whether it's picking a side or offering advice, neither is a good idea!

"I..." Qingyu hesitated, "I'm just a genin, these matters..."

I'm not in a position to comment on these things, please ask someone else; I just want to protect everyone behind me!

Or wait fourteen business days, and I'll try to give you an answer.